Group A: Russia 70, Saudi Arabia 67, Egypt 45, Uruguay 4
Group B: Morocco 41, Iran 37, Portugal 4, Spain 10
Group C: France 7, Australia 36, Peru 11, Denmark 19
Group D: Argentina 5, Iceland 22, Croatia 20, Nigeria 48
Group E: Costa Rica 23, Serbia 34, Brazil 2, Switzerland 6
Group F: Germany 1, Mexico 15, Sweden 24, South Korea 57
Group G: Belgium 3, Panama 55, Tunisia 21, England 12=
Group H: Colombia 16, Japan 61, Poland 8, Senegal 27
How?
For the first time 209 FIFA nations entered the qualifying process. Russia did not have to, as hosts. Allocation in the finals was based on "Confederation" groups i.e. UEFA or CONCACAF-you know!
Once qualification had happened the Finals draw was held at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St Petersburg.
32 nations went into the pots and 20 had taken part in the 2014 finals.
Iceland and Panama qualified for the first time; Iceland being the smallest by population.
Egypt, Morocco and Peru have not qualified for long periods. It is the first time that three Scandinavian countries and four Arab nations have reached this final stage.
Italy for the first tine since 1958 have not made it, nor have the Netherlands, for the first time since 2002. Four reigning continental champions have not reached the finals: USA, Chile, Cameroon and New Zealand.
The Pots were:
P1: Russia hosts, Germany 1, Brazil 2, Portugal 3, Argentina 4, Belgium 5 Poland 6, France 7
P2 : Spain 8, Peru 10, Switzerland 11, England 12=, Colombia 13, Mexico 16, Uruguay 17, Croatia 18.
P3: Denmark 19, Iceland 21, Costa Rica 22, Sweden 25, Tunisia 28, Egypt 30, Senegal 32, Iran 34.
P4: Serbia 38, Nigeria 41, Australia 43, Japan 44, Morocco 48, Panama 49, South Korea 62, Saudia Arabia 63 (lowest ranked by FIFA to play in these finals). Which is why the Russians are having a field day? (3-0 up)
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